Sertraline Hydrochloride (Page 3 of 10)

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The data described below are from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of sertraline hydrochloride (mostly 50 mg to 200 mg per day) in 3,066 adults diagnosed with MDD, OCD, PD, PTSD, SAD, and PMDD. These 3,066 patients exposed to sertraline hydrochloride for 8 to12 weeks represent 568 patient-years of exposure. The mean age was 40 years; 57% were females and 43% were males.

The most common adverse reactions (≥5% and twice placebo) in all pooled placebo-controlled clinical trials of all sertraline hydrochloride-treated patients with MDD, OCD, PD, PTSD, SAD and PMDD were nausea, diarrhea/loose stool, tremor, dyspepsia, decreased appetite, hyperhidrosis, ejaculation failure, and decreased libido (see Table 3). The following are the most common adverse reactions in trials of sertraline hydrochloride (≥5% and twice placebo) by indication that were not mentioned previously.

• MDD: somnolence;
• OCD: insomnia, agitation;
• PD: constipation, agitation;
• PTSD: fatigue;
• PMDD: somnolence, dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, and abdominal pain;
• SAD: insomnia, dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, malaise.

Table 3: Common Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled Trials in Adults with MDD, OCD, PD, PTSD, SAD, and PMDD*

	Sertraline Hydrochloride (N=3066)	Placebo (N=2293)
Cardiac disorders
Palpitations	4%	2%
Eye disorders
Visual impairment	4%	2%
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea	26%	12%
Diarrhea/Loose stools	20%	10%
Dry mouth	14%	9%
Dyspepsia	8%	4%
Constipation	6%	4%
Vomiting	4%	1%
General disorders and administration site conditions
Fatigue	12%	8%
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Decreased appetite	7%	2%
Nervous system disorders
Dizziness	12%	8%
Somnolence	11%	6%
Tremor	9%	2%
Psychiatric Disorders
Insomnia	20%	13%
Agitation	8%	5%
Libido decreased	6%	2%
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Ejaculation failure (1)	8%	1%
Erectile dysfunction (1)	4%	1%
Ejaculation disorder (1)	3%	0%
Male sexual dysfunction (1)	2%	0%
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Hyperhidrosis	7%	3%

⁽¹⁾ Denominator used was for male patients only (n=1,316 sertraline hydrochloride; n=973 placebo).

* Adverse reactions that occurred greater than 2% in sertraline hydrochloride-treated patients and at least 2% greater in sertraline hydrochloride-treated patients than placebo-treated patients.

Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation in Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials

In all placebo-controlled studies in patients with MDD, OCD, PD, PTSD, SAD and PMDD, 368 (12%) of the 3,066 patients who received sertraline hydrochloride discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction, compared with 93 (4%) of the 2,293 placebo-treated patients. In placebo-controlled studies, the following were the common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation in sertraline hydrochloride-treated patients:

• MDD, OCD, PD, PTSD, SAD and PMDD: nausea (3%), diarrhea (2%), agitation (2%), and insomnia (2%).
• MDD (>2% and twice placebo): decreased appetite, dizziness, fatigue, headache, somnolence, tremor, and vomiting.
• OCD: somnolence.
• PD: nervousness and somnolence.

Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction

Although changes in sexual desire, sexual performance and sexual satisfaction often occur as manifestations of a psychiatric disorder, they may also be a consequence of SSRI treatment. However, reliable estimates of the incidence and severity of untoward experiences involving sexual desire, performance and satisfaction are difficult to obtain, in part because patients and healthcare providers may be reluctant to discuss them. Accordingly, estimates of the incidence of untoward sexual experience and performance cited in labeling may underestimate their actual incidence.

Table 4 below displays the incidence of sexual adverse reactions reported by at least 2% of sertraline hydrochloride-treated patients and twice placebo from pooled placebo-controlled trials. For men and all indications, the most common adverse reactions (>2% and twice placebo) included: ejaculation failure, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder, and male sexual dysfunction. For women, the most common adverse reaction (≥2% and twice placebo) was decreased libido.

Table 4: Most Common Sexual Adverse Reactions (≥2% and twice placebo) in Men or Women from Sertraline Hydrochloride Pooled Controlled Trials in Adults with MDD, OCD, PD, PTSD, SAD, and PMDD

	Sertraline Hydrochloride	Placebo
Men only	(N=1,316)	(N=973)
Ejaculation failure	8%	1%
Libido decreased	7%	2%
Erectile dysfunction	4%	1%
Ejaculation disorder	3%	0%
Male sexual dysfunction	2%	0%
Women only	(N=1,750)	(N=1,320)
Libido decreased	4%	2%

Adverse Reactions in Pediatric Patients

In 281 pediatric patients treated with sertraline hydrochloride in placebo-controlled studies, the overall profile of adverse reactions was generally similar to that seen in adult studies. Adverse reactions that do not appear in Table 3 (most common adverse reactions in adults) yet were reported in at least 2% of pediatric patients and at a rate of at least twice the placebo rate include fever, hyperkinesia, urinary incontinence, aggression, epistaxis, purpura, arthralgia, decreased weight, muscle twitching, and anxiety.

Other Adverse Reactions Observed During the Premarketing Evaluation of Sertraline Hydrochloride

Other infrequent adverse reactions, not described elsewhere in the prescribing information, occurring at an incidence of < 2% in patients treated with sertraline hydrochloride were:

Cardiac disorders – tachycardia

Ear and labyrinth disorders – tinnitus

Endocrine disorders — hypothyroidism

Eye disorders — mydriasis, blurred vision

Gastrointestinal disorders — hematochezia, melena, rectal hemorrhage

General disorders and administration site conditions — edema, gait disturbance, irritability, pyrexia

Hepatobiliary disorders — elevated liver enzymes

Immune system disorders — anaphylaxis

Metabolism and nutrition disorders — diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypoglycemia, increased appetite

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders — arthralgia, muscle spasms, tightness, or twitching

Nervous system disorders — ataxia, coma, convulsion, decreased alertness, hypoesthesia, lethargy, psychomotor hyperactivity, syncope

Psychiatric disorders — aggression, bruxism, confusional state, euphoric mood, hallucination

Renal and urinary disorders — hematuria

Reproductive system and breast disorders — galactorrhea, priapism, vaginal hemorrhage

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders — bronchospasm, epistaxis, yawning

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders — alopecia; cold sweat; dermatitis; dermatitis bullous; pruritus; purpura; erythematous, follicular, or maculopapular rash; urticaria

Vascular disorders — hemorrhage, hypertension, vasodilation